sunburn

sun·burn | \ ˈsən-ˌbərn

How to pronounce sunburn (audio)

\

sunburned\ ˈsən-ˌbərnd

How to pronounce sunburned (audio)

\ or sunburnt\ ˈsən-ˌbərnt

How to pronounce sunburnt (audio)

\; sunburning

Definition of sunburn

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

: to burn or discolor by the sun

intransitive verb

: to become sunburned

sunburn

Definition of sunburn (Entry 2 of 2)

: inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation especially from sunlight

Examples of sunburn in a Sentence

Noun He has a bad sunburn. Use sunscreen to prevent sunburn.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Light- or short-coated dogs can get sunburned, so ask your vet for recommendations on canine sunscreen because some human sunscreens are toxic if your pet licks them off. — Arricca Sansone, Country Living, "Everything You Need to Know About Hiking With Your Dog," 12 Feb. 2019 There may be lingering pain, soreness, or sensitivity after a tattoo, which can feel similar to sunburn or a bruise. — Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, "A Tattoo Artist's Guide to Your First Tattoo," 2 Jan. 2019 Your eyes, like your skin, can get sunburned when they’re exposed to too much sunlight. — Korin Miller, SELF, "5 Entirely Preventable Eye Injuries Doctors See Way Too Often," 1 Nov. 2018 The tanning ethos dates back to The early 1920s, when Coco Chanel inadvertently got sunburned on the French Riviera — or, some say, on a cruise near there. — Alison Rose, Town & Country, "Hot Pursuit," 16 Dec. 2012 Cindie Allen-Stewart, of Mount Calm, shared her decades-old family secret on Facebook hoping to help some friends who, like her, are prone to sunburn despite using sunscreen. — Jennifer Earl, Fox News, "Texas mom's viral sunburn hack works, but it's not 'magical cure,' dermatologists warn," 3 July 2018 The child’s head, sunburned under the blond velvet, rested on the woman’s strong arm. — Lauren Groff, The New Yorker, "Under the Wave," 9 July 2017 If Tuohy were running barefoot, the bottom of her feet might be sunburned by the end of a long race. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, "America’s Next Great Running Hope, and One of the Cruelest Twists in Youth Sports," 8 June 2018 And now, aloe and hopefully goodbye to sunburn pain. — Amy Bartner, Indianapolis Star, "Sunburns: Race weekend's top lobsters," 29 May 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In the United States, sunscreens were originally approved as an over-the-counter solution to sunburn. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN, "Seven sunscreen chemicals enter bloodstream after one use, FDA says, but don't abandon sun protection," 21 Jan. 2020 Rob, with his sunburn and pulled muscle, could not defend himself against the smaller and wilier Stan, who punched him in the nose, causing him to bleed all over the mushroom flatbread. — Larry David, The New Yorker, "On the First-World Campaign Trail," 11 Nov. 2019 Walgreens beauty consultants and pharmacists will provide information on sun protection and sunburn treatments and dole out free sunscreen. — Samantha Nelson, chicagotribune.com, "Free things to do in Chicago this week: Chicago Poetry Block Party and Newberry Book Fair," 24 July 2019 My skin is now red and swollen and feels like extreme sunburn. — Thatiana Diaz, refinery29.com, "Yes To Is Recalling Its Popular Unicorn Sheet Mask," 9 Jan. 2020 My skin is now red and swollen and feels like extreme sunburn. — Claudia Harmata, PEOPLE.com, "'Yes To' Face Masks Sold in Target and Ulta Recalled Due to Skin Irritation Reported by Customers," 8 Jan. 2020 In India and Indonesia, rice runs the risk of sunburn, so increasing air pollution in that region has kind of helped production by blocking sunlight. — Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, "Heatwaves on multiple continents linked by jet stream tendency," 11 Dec. 2019 Nothing smarts quite like a sunburn, so use an ocean-friendly sunscreen that'll save your skin and protect the creatures in the water. — Scottie Andrew, CNN, "Whether you're spending Labor Day on a beach, boat or couch, here's how to stay safe," 29 Aug. 2019 Maybe intermittent storms are tough to predict, or a sunburn seems inevitable. — Kelly Dawson, House Beautiful, "What Is a Lanai, Other Than the Key to an Endless Summer?," 2 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sunburn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Sunburn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sunburn. Accessed 18 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for sunburn

sunburn

noun

English Language Learners Definition of sunburn

: a condition in which your skin becomes sore and red from too much sunlight

See the full definition for sunburn in the English Language Learners Dictionary

sunburn

sun·burn | \ ˈsən-ˌbərn

\

Kids Definition of sunburn

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a sore red state of the skin caused by too much sunlight

sunburn

sunburned\ -ˌbərnd \ or sunburnt\ -ˌbərnt \; sunburning

Kids Definition of sunburn (Entry 2 of 2)

: to burn or discolor by exposure to the sun

sunburn

transitive verb

sun·burn | \ -ˌbərn

\

sunburned\ -ˌbərnd

\ or sunburnt\ -ˌbərnt

\; sunburning

Medical Definition of sunburn

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to affect with sunburn sunburned skin

sunburn

Medical Definition of sunburn (Entry 2 of 2)

: inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation especially from sunlight

— called also erythema solare

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